Vision

I envision a better Blacksburg, a Blacksburg which

• Is a safe, supportive, stimulating place to live for children, teens, families, young and older professionals, singles, and seniors
• Is not just a great university town, but a great place to live, work, and raise a family, as well as a great place to retire
• Is diverse, and values diversity in age, ethnic background, gender, religion, sexual orientation, economic means, and interests
• Is welcoming and cultivates a sense of community among its diverse population
• Is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of its citizens’ lives
• Has expanded broadband availability
• Has numerous recreational opportunities, including abundant athletic fields, for residents of all ages
• Preserves green space and natural areas
• Has great public and alternative transportation and an extensive network of sidewalks and walking and biking trails
• Has a broad range of retail businesses, light manufacturing, professional services, research centers, and creative enterprises, while supporting entrepreneurial activities
• Is known as an exciting hub for the visual and performing arts
• Honors its Comprehensive Plan, and follows the letter and spirit of it
• Has a truly open, honest, transparent, and participatory government
• Encourages and values active citizen involvement in the decision making process
• Has a commonsense and prudent fiscal management plan with no frills but excellent services
• Has a sense of what it is, what it wants to be — a vision guided by community values.

I envision a vibrant, historic downtown

• A happening, low vacancy downtown
• A downtown rich in public spaces
• A downtown full of locally owned, unique retail businesses, art galleries, wine bars and beer joints, fine dining and casual, outdoor dining
• A downtown with readily available public parking
• My vision is a safe downtown–safe for our students and our year-round residents, a downtown where community residents want to shop, eat, and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues, a downtown where you can pick up a prescription or buy a set of sheets, as well as purchase pizza and Virginia Tech merchandise.
• My vision of downtown includes mixed-use redevelopment of the old Blacksburg Middle School property as a site where is it possible both to live and to work, a site that is a civic, commercial, residential, and recreational resource–a community hub that is alive with pedestrians ambling, children playing, and residents enjoying public art and public performances.
• My vision includes implementing the recommendations found in the January 2019 “Strategic Plan for Downtown Blacksburg, VA.” To see the report, please visit https://www.blacksburg.gov/departments/departments-l-z/town-manager/plans-and-studies/downtown-strategic-plan.

I envision preserving and enhancing our rich array of neighborhoods by . . .

• Promoting diverse housing options, including workforce, senior, and young professional housing
• Strengthening current neighborhood associations
• Preserving each neighborhood’s unique identity
• Ensuring safe neighborhoods
• Protecting neighborhoods from commercial encroachment
• Lessening cut-through traffic problems
• Protecting neighborhoods from increased light and noise pollution from nearby development and redevelopment
• Improving community livability through sidewalk and trail connections, pocket parks, and green space preservation
• Fostering a greater sense of community within existing neighborhoods and the town as a whole.

I envision a better Blacksburg for us all.